Kolkata: A retired govt school teacher was convicted of raping a nine-year-old girl by a Malda court on Wednesday. Rafikul Islam, also known as Bhelu, was convicted under section 6 of the Pocso Act and Section 376AB of the IPC by the additional district & sessions judge (2nd Pocso court) in Malda. The sentencing will be on July 4.
The Calcutta High Court on Aug 19, 2021, had ordered the CBI's Special Crime Branch to investigate this case as part of post-poll violence incidents following the 2021 assembly election. CBI investigators said that on June 4, 2021, Rafikul lured the victim with money while she was playing in a mango orchard at Manickchak in Malda district. The girl's 10-year-old cousin witnessed the crime, and both minors testified during the trial.
"Both the survivor and the eyewitness provided compelling testimony about the incident before the trial court," said Amitava Maitra, CBI's special public prosecutor.